Adjustable Tappets

[Steve Plucker]

I would like to know just how many types/brands there are for adjustable tappets for the Model A/AA Ford engine AND of the few...which one is the best.

I ask this because of an exerience I had.

Back in 1984 when I moved to Bakersfield, CA I re-restored my Coupe for a second time. I took my engine to LA to have it redone and the adjustable tappets they put in, in my opinion were great as they had a nice hex nut for which one could adjust.

Fast forward to 1995 I had it looked over again and unknown to me until later I find out that all those "good" adjustable tappets were traded out for ones with a very thin hex head and not as easy to adjust.

So, are there good ones and bad ones?

Thanks.

Pluck

[chrs1961815]

The ones I am playing with right now are Colony brand - I do believe AER uses them in their engines. They do have a smaller nut that sounds like yours almost. I suppose it is better than the non adjustable type.

[quickchange]

I used mopar ones around 50.s these are single lock, larger foot which is good for a big cam , larger in the bore size too, found some stocker plus some 4 thou oversize , my down fall at Bonneville , one nipped up & we was on 3 pots, Found them on flea bay ,Derek in a locked down autumn day NZ

[SteveB31]

The Colony ones are good. I have used them in over 300 engines. I tried the Chinese ones sold by some vendors- they suck.

[Dave in MN]

Originally Posted by SteveB31

The Colony ones are good. I have used them in over 300 engines. I tried the Chinese ones sold by some vendors- they suck.

Agree!

[Bruce of MN]

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Originally Posted by SteveB31

The Colony ones are good. I have used them in over 300 engines. I tried the Chinese ones sold by some vendors- they suck.

Can you buy them new now? Who sells them?

Thanks

[Dave in MN]

Snyders has them.

[jwmckenzie]

I would bet Bert's has them as well.

[Mikeinnj]

"one nipped up & we was on 3 pots"......what does that mean ?????

Explain "Nipped" and "Pots" ???

[chrs1961815]

Pots are pistons?

[katy]

Pots = cylinders, aka jugs

[Jim Brierley]

"nipped up" is Kiwi for a lot of things that go wrong. I'm not sure what happened to Derek's engine but it affected 1 cylinder, so he ran it on 3 cylinders.

[chrs1961815]

On an engine I used to have, the steering control rod to distributor was bent and it would occassionally rub on the spark plug, causing it to short out.

[Purdy Swoft]

I use the double lock style Colony lifters in a couple of my engines . The Colony lifters are good and hold their setting but are more difficult to use . I have good luck with the easier to use self locking type lifters and much prefer them . In other words ,you almost need three arms and three wrenches when adjusting any double lock style lifter .